Originally Posted by
kenish
fatneko- Most rental car companies consider all locations in the LA metro area as one so one-way rental fees usually don't apply. The exception are the "neighborhood" or "local edition" offices, where you generally are required to bring the car back to the renting office. Their franchise is different and separate from the nationwide ones.
I have never been to a city where renting from the airport doesn't carry a 10-30% charge over non-airport locations. Sometimes when I don't need a car for the whole time I'm in a city, I concentrate use of the car to the last day(s) of my visit. I rent downtown and return the car at the airport...it saves the airport surcharges and the cost of an airport shuttle.
Some neighborhood offices, particularly those belonging to Hertz and Avis, use the national floating fleet and so can do one-way rentals (even though they are independent franchises). However, individual locations may restrict vehicle returns for space/availability issues--one example is the Hertz at Union Station, which has limited parking and so restricts where cars can be returned.